JANUARY newsLETTER
From the Community Foundation’s Program Team
Dear friends,
The start of a new year often leads us to celebrate new beginnings.
I am thrilled to have two new people joining our vibrant Program team at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County:
Guy Fisher is our new Program Officer for Career Pathways. Guy brings with him a breadth of experience including serving as director of financial aid at Bethel University, working in community engagement at Goodwill Industries, and career development with a state employment program. As a first-generation college graduate, he understands the importance and challenges facing youth making these decisions. He also brings experience as a grant writer and grant manager.
Melinda Freeze is the new Administrative Coordinator for Program Initiatives, working with Connect in Elkhart County and Building Strong Brains. Melinda brings with her experience including accounts receivable/payable coordinator and administrative assistant to directors of education at Concord Community Schools. She also brings her experience as a training coordinator and program supervisor for Elkhart County CASA. Melinda shares a commitment to the detail and collaboration important to initiative work.
Alyssa Gilbert isn’t formally part of the Program team, but as the Community Foundation’s new Digital Marketing Manager, she will support Connect in Elkhart County, Building Strong Brains, and Acts of Service with social media, marketing and event support.
We are so happy to welcome them to the Community Foundation and believe they will help serve our community and all of you in the nonprofit community.
Candy Yoder
Chief Program Officer
GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 15
We have two major deadlines a year for Community Investment Grant applications of more than $25,000. The next one is fast approaching on February 15, 2023.
The application is unchanged and we remain committed to our areas of emphasis:
- Early Childhood Development & Education
- Career Awareness, Exploration & Employability Skills (grades 4-12)
- Internship & Apprenticeships (grades 4-12)
- Vibrant Downtowns
- Parks
- Connected Network of Trails
We encourage you to apply for a grant that will improve the quality of life in Elkhart County. One of the requirements is working with one of our program officers before applying. Vonnie Trumble, Ray Caldwell, and Guy Fisher are happy to help you prepare a strong, successful proposal.
Join our TLC events
The Learning Center offers free training for our nonprofit community. We are excited about our upcoming events. Registration is filling quickly, so please take action now to assure your spot.
February 8 –
“Time Management and Organizational Skills in Nonprofit Event Management”
March 14 –
“Volunteer Resource Management: Creating a Culture of Service”
April 16 –
“Making Meaning in the Midst of Chaos”
Join our CEO Roundtables
Since 2004, we have gathered CEOs of local nonprofits in small groups. These CEO Roundtables offer a place for leaders of nonprofit organizations to talk with and learn from each other, as well as get support from the Community Foundation.
Kevin Deary, director of professional & organizational development, now oversees those five groups and may be on the verge of forming another. You can join a group at any time.
Maggie Okponobi, CEO of Owls Club, one of Elkhart County’s newer nonprofits, said, “The camaraderie, shared insights, and genuine friendships formed within The Sweepers (CEO roundtable) have enriched my leadership skills and provided immeasurable support during both triumphs and setbacks while growing Owls Club. This safe space has not only strengthened my professional capabilities but has also contributed significantly to my personal well-being. I am immensely grateful to the Community Foundation for fostering such a conscious and impactful platform.”
Save the date for our Strong Towns event
We are co-hosting an event March 19 and 20 focused on how we build strong cities and towns in our region. Please save the date and be on the lookout for additional information.
Chuck Marohn will be the featured speaker at the event. He is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town. He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. Planetizen named him one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.
Scholarships available
Each year, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County awards more than 100 new scholarships to local students, including high school seniors heading to college and adults furthering their education.
On January 1, our Universal Scholarship Application opened for 2024. This single application connects high school and adult students to multiple scholarships offered by the Community Foundation and our donors. This single application unlocks the possibility of more than 30 different scholarships if you’re a high school student and seven different ones if you’re an adult.
We want these scholarship funds to help build our community and make it more vibrant. We hope you can help promote this opportunity by urging others to apply (or even become an applicant). The deadline for applications is March 1.
Join the BSB movement
Building Strong Brains, the initiative focused on improving early childhood outcomes in Elkhart County, continues to grow and gain momentum. Nearly 100 people are engaged in actions to help our young children thrive when they arrive at kindergarten.
